diphthong

pic looks like the bottom of couser canyon. such a fun climb and, especially, descent.

diphthong

idyllwild vaca. no riding but driving recon. 371 up to 371/74 junction sweet. 74 to keen mountain summit (a mile west of lake hemet) good pavé both sides but descent to mountain center slightly better than okay. pavé up to/from idyllwild via ca hwy 243 still not the best. pavé to/from mountain center/hemet not the best either. current caltrans work south fork san jacinto river bridge area as well as closer to town. that said, with a few longitudinal cracks here and there, ca hwy 74, from keen mountain summit/mountain center just below idyllwild, is a top socal descent (and ascent). traffic generally not too bad and upper turns are banked for maximum shred. try it. you'll be back.

diphthong

things conspired to not bring the bike and only managed to do a few miles of the deer springs trail. ugh. trail was worthy but wanted more outdoors for the entire getaway. had a great dinner, at least. mornings at sunrise were in the 35-37 degree range which is in the no-go riding zone for this wimp. 45-50?
rather not but will suck it up as long as things warm up.

SoSmellyAir

First ride post-COVID: 20 miles (cutting 9 miles off my regular route) and 1 mph slower due to combination of head wind and recovery.

Eric F 

I've ridden from Idyllwild to Mtn. Center, and out past Lake Hemet a couple of times. Out and back on that route is very nice. 243 from Banning I would not want to ride up due to the narrowness of the road, tightness of turns, and amount of traffic - even on a weekday. Going down that way would be slightly better. 74 between Hemet and Mtn. Center is iffy both ways, IMO.

jonathanf2

32 miles today with a mix of road and trail climbing on the gravel bike. I seriously don't know what's up with the Pasadena area, but there seems to be quite a few ******bag/low IQ drivers in the area. Despite taking the least car trafficked bike route, I still had to tell one driver to go F his mother. I almost feel like I'm better off riding my bike in LA, despite the worst traffic!

Besides that one verbal exchange, it was fairly quiet with barely anyone on the trails. Before heading home, I did one loop around the Rose Bowl. I've been riding there more often to practice my cadence control, though my bad habits always make me want to sprint to catch the cyclist ahead of me! Lastly, immersive wax chains are the best. It makes cleaning my gravel bike so much easier!

diphthong

underrated. low traffic on the weekdays...the weekends, not so much. that slow, low grade up to the paradise corner café at the corner of the 74/371 (and another .5 mile to the pct crossing/top of the drop to palm desert) is one of those
stretches where you can get some good work in or totally lollygag while taking in the mountain meadow views. if you want desolate roadie climbing, morris ranch road on the north side of 74 is the ticket.

have only descended the 243 from idyllwild/pine cove down to banning/10 freeway corridor as part of a 80 mile loop. the lower parts are tighter but slightly less tight than the 74 up the hill from palm desert. would still like to ascend it
but would try to hit it on a non-holiday weekday from 9am-10:30am.

the 74 between mountain center and the outskirts of hemet in either direction has the passing lane in both directions up in the curvaceous parts along with plenty of pull-outs. lower down, traffic is faster but the sightlines are better and road is straighter.
still, would hit it on a non-holiday weekday from 9am-10:30am for an ascent. descent? would try to avoid the weekday 2:30pm-4:30pm time slot.

for many of these "bucket list" highways in socal, it comes down to comfort levels and timing. many people can only ride roads like these on the weekends. if so, sunrise start is the recommendation. during the week, waiting until the morning commute, construction and school traffic
is over usually works best.

reminds me that i really really need to get off my ass(ets) in 2024 and do better than 2023.

diphthong

welcome back.

cweb99

I think I saw you at the Rose Bowl loop. The drop angle and grip tape are very distinct lol.

2seven0

Thanks. Never really left but work & home improvement projects have cut into my goof-off schedule as of late.

jonathanf2

I usually link the Rose Bowl, San Rafael Hills and the Angeles Crest Mtns. (if on the gravel bike) as a continuous route. I try and mix it up with climbing and fast sprints. Basically anything to keep the bike rides enjoyable while getting a good workout!

jsigone

I haven't done GMR since pre covid days.. fun hill going up n down. Burr it was cold today and we started bit later to avoid some the morning chill. Plus 110 mile drive up feel good to sleep in that extra hour.
Encanto Park to GMR, GRR, Village for bacon burger. Back same way.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10318977611

cweb99

^nice I did a bit of GMR yesterday too. Planning on a GMR ride to baldy soon

Eric F 

Saturday...26mi/3600' gravel bike ride. Angeles Crest Hwy - Grizzly Flats Rd - Lukens Rd - ACH. It was a fantastic ride, on a beautiful day, in an area I haven't ridden in 20+ years. https://www.strava.com/activities/10318086466

This pic is looking down at ACH towards La Canada, with the start of Grizzly Flats Rd. near the cars in the lower right of the pic. Grizzly connects with the Lukens Rd - which can be seen along the ridge in the upper right - and descends on the opposite size of the ridge down to ACH.


Lower Big Tujunga Canyon, from Grizzly Flats Rd.






Sunday...My regular coffee ride with friends (38mi/1500'). Easy cruising with some spicy fun. Legs felt pretty good.

jsigone

what tires are you running on the niner these days? I need to get another pair in the 42-45c range that is knobby but not too dragging on the pavement.

jonathanf2

I rode Monday thru Wednesday. First day doing Rose Bowl laps. Second day local climbing in the neighborhood. Third riding Griffith Park. My gravel bike has been neglected, so I need to pencil in some dirt time!